Physiologists in their studies have proved that the human body is 70-90% water, and its lack is fraught with dehydration, which leads not only to diseases, but also to malfunctioning of organs.
Thanks to open access to information every year more and more people learn about the need to maintain water balance. But it is one thing when an adult consciously sets this goal. But how to teach a child to drink the right amount of water? Indeed, to achieve the desired effect, the process will have to be controlled daily for at least a month.
What is the water balance and why to observe it?
The water balance of the human body is the ratio of the amount of the fluid that the body received with the one that it brought out. All processes taking place in the body are somehow connected with water. A person cannot even breathe without water, because it is it that dissolves oxygen and carbon dioxide, which allows the lungs to function normally.
Water imbalance forms
At the moment, there are several forms of water imbalance: dehydration and swelling. Each should be considered in more detail.
Dehydration
Symptoms of dehydration are:
- fever;
- low blood pressure;
- heart rate increase;
- weight loss;
- constant desire to drink water;
- feeling of nausea and others.
The causes of dehydration include the lack of the right amount of water and an increased amount of salts. Dehydration is possible in case of heat stroke, burns, vomiting, loose stools and so on.
Swelling
Violation of the water balance in the form of puffiness manifests itself through the following symptoms:
- swelling of the hands and feet in the first place;
- gagging;
- the appearance of seizures;
- feeling unwell;
- fainting and other symptoms.
Swelling is manifested if the body is functioning poorly. For example, in the case of diseases associated with the cardiovascular system, kidneys, liver. Some people, striving for a healthy lifestyle, completely exclude salt from the diet. Such diets can also lead to a violation of the water balance and the appearance of puffiness. In addition, puffiness may indicate late toxicosis, preeclampsia of a pregnant woman.
Water balance recovery
To restore water balance in case of dehydration, doctors recommend, in addition to water, drinking certain drugs that help restore the amount of fluid. Electrolytes also cope with this task, they can be purchased at any pharmacy. But in case of dehydration in a child, you should definitely seek medical help from a doctor. The doctor will help in a record time to neutralize the symptoms and prescribe exactly those drugs that are suitable for the baby. Of course, it is better to prevent both dehydration and swelling. And for this, you should teach your child to drink water, as if it is the most delicious drink in the world, and help him to observe the drinking regime.
Unfortunately, many children who are accustomed to drinking tea, carbonated drinks, juices do not like to drink water. So how to teach a child to drink water? To answer this question, you first need to determine the necessary, according to doctors, the amount of the daily dose of water.
Volume amount of water per day
The daily amount of water is calculated in accordance with age and weight:
- From the moment of birth to six months, the baby, if it is breastfed, receives everything it needs, including water, from mother’s milk. So, as a rule, there is no need to take an additional amount of water. But if the child is breast-fed for some reason, then the pediatrician negotiates with the mother the amount of water necessary for the baby (15-20 ml of water 3-4 times a day).
- From 6 months to 7 years, doctors recommend giving children water, based on the weight of the child. The required amount is calculated as follows: per 1 kg of the child's weight, 50 ml of water.
- Children who are over 7 years old already need to drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day, depending on the physical activity of the fidget and the time of year.
Tips from doctors and experienced parents
How to teach a child to drink water correctly? The most important point is that water should be drunk on an empty stomach. More specifically, at least 20 minutes before meals and 40-60 minutes after eating (during this time the stomach will have time to digest food and empty, directing the food into the intestines). At the same time, it is better not to eat food and water, water will dilute the gastric juice, and this will lead to digestion.
Drink water before meals should be, because it will be required for the digestion of food. And if there is not enough water, then the body will have to get the necessary amount in the intestine, which is not useful.
It is recommended to drink warm water, the temperature of which is higher than body temperature. Then the body will not need to pre-heat it, and the body cells will almost immediately receive the necessary fluid.
How to teach a child to drink water if he does not want to? First, discipline and lead by example. As the saying goes, a habit develops for 21 days. Make a rough schedule and drink water together. You can add an element of the game by inviting the child to drink water at a speed, who is faster and to award the winner. You can use tubes or other elements that diversify the process.
Tips for Parents
How to teach a baby to drink water? After all, infants are accustomed to milk, and the taste of water at first may be unpleasant for them, children can spit out water and refuse to drink it. Experienced parents advise to give the child a teaspoon, do it often and not despair. Over time, the baby will cease to resist the process. It is only necessary to force the baby to drink water if he is sweating, acting up, has dry lips, is sick or the weather is very hot, and also if the child is peeing up to 4-5 times a day, and the process is painful because that the acid concentration in the urine is higher, and the color of the urine itself is pronounced. In all other cases, if the baby does not want to drink, this means that he has enough water in his body. You can offer some water, but do not force it to drink.
If patience and discipline do not help, then the question of how to teach a child to drink water, Komarovsky advises trying to use a syringe or a bottle. At the same time, water for babies should be chosen not from boiled tap water, but from well-filtered, thawed or special children’s.
When asked how to teach a child to drink water from a bottle, if the baby categorically refuses, try to make the drinking holes a little wider. After all, the problem may lie in the fact that, perhaps, it is simply difficult for a child to suck out fluid from a hard and uncomfortable nipple.
And a few more tips on how to teach a child to drink water from a bottle:
- Choose a softer pacifier.
- Check that there is no odor from the bottle and nipple.
- Water temperature should be up to 37 degrees.
- At first, give the baby water from the bottle, simulating breastfeeding: put the baby in her arms and touch the cheek with her chest, but instead of the chest, give the bottle of water.